I will say for me, what happens when I quickly see a place, with the idea that I'll go back later, is that often I don't get back there - or it takes me a very long time to get there again. Instead, I always end up opting for places that I haven't explored at all yet.

When I was younger, especially, I'd often plan trips where I'd never stay in one place more than a night - and always had the idea that if I really liked a place, I'd go back in the future. Much like you're planning, one of the trips I took in my early 20s was out to the Pacific Northwest. I spent a day or less in places like Seattle, Vancouver, and Glacier National Park. I had a great time on the trip - which was as much about having fun with my friends as it was seeing these places - but 10 years later, I haven't made it back yet, because I've always opted for new areas.

Like I said, I had fun on those trips, and I'm not even sure I would do things differently, but keep that in mind if you're building a plan under the idea that you'll go back to place later.

I definitely understand that. That's why I'm going to save the farther west places entirely for another time. Otherwise, I may be less inclined to go again if there is somewhere else I haven't yet been. I think that's also why I have such a hard time selecting just a few places to see. From when I mentioned possibly going only as far as Montana earlier, my list of places to see has actually increased. (Oops.) Looking on the map, though, I see where I can cut that down a bit. Many of those places I can save for the 2017 "northwest corner" trip (which I can hammer out at a much later date). : ) I just have to decide where that imaginary cut-off line is.

Thanks, Lifey! That *is* a really interesting post. I have a few links from it open to read in a bit. And glc - what a scary but fun prospect! That would be so outside my norm, though. Not that that's a bad thing, but I think I would have to psych myself up for it (I can't even go for a walk unless I have a destination in mind...). I do really like the idea, though.

My AAA maps arrived, by the way! I had them sent to my parents' house since my dad, very sweetly, added me to his AAA plan the second I got my car, which meant I couldn't send them anywhere else. : P But I'm flying out there tomorrow, so I will have them soon. I finally told my mom about the trip and she was actually really supportive about it. (She's the typical jewish mother - she worries about absolutely everything.) I told her we can look over the maps together and look at some options for my trip. She was really excited about that.

I'm also super excited because I made a photo book from my last roadtrip (I'm a graphic designer, so I had to make it super fancy, of course) and had that sent there as well since I didn't know if it would arrive before I left. Well, it's waiting for me there now!

I feel so giddy! I can't believe how happy I am even just thinking about this 2016 trip, even though I still don't know exactly what I will do. So much fun in the planning, though! I still haven't told any friends. I don't want anyone to ask to join me. : P